UTAH TRIP
September - October, 1999
Part 1: East to Wyoming


Jolly Green Giant, Blue Earth, Minnesota

JGG website






Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone, Minnesota

PNM Website

Pipestone National Monument is the traditional Indian source of catlinite, a reddish sedimentary rock which can be cut with metal tools. During the mid-1600s, it was widely traded among Indians, and was used for many items. Among other uses, its was used for the bowls of pipes, including the traditional "peacepipes"; hence the name "pipestone."

Pipe bowl made of catlinite (pipestone) - modern reproduction.


Exhibit space at Visitor Center.


Diorama - Indians mining catlinite (pipestone) ca 1600.


Sample of catlinite with modern tools (for tourists to play with).


Modern example of tourist trade item made from catlinite.


Modern example of tourist trade item made from catlinite.


Modern example of tourist trade item made from catlinite.


Still at PNM ... sumac in fall color


Sumac in fall color


"The Old Man" (limestone outcrop)


Ann and Dogs


Ann and Dogs


Nicollet sign (Jean Nicollet and party visited the site in 1600s).


Nicollet engraving in outcrop.


Signers of Nicollet engraving.


"The Old Man" (limestone outcrop)

Badlands National Park, Interior, South Dakota

BNP Website







 

Still at Badlands ... magpies are weird birds.










Still at Badlands. Note the colored bands caused by impurities (iron, sulphur?).






Mount Rushmore National Monument, Keystone, South Dakota

MRNM Website







Custer State Park, Custer, South Dakota

CSP Website













On the road again!


 
 

Pronghorns!


Independence Rock State Historic Site, Wyoming

IRSHS website


On the road again ...


Green River, Wyoming


World's First J.C.Penney Store, Kemmerer, Wyoming


Heading west of Kemmerer to FBNM...


Fossil Butte National Monument, Kemmerer, Wyoming

FBNM website

The butte itself. The outcrop bearing fossils appears in this butte.

Visitor Center (excellent exhibits!)

While we were visiting the Visitor Center, a school group arrived ...

Whereupon, we left the Visitor Center and headed toward the Butte itself. I took a picture of a passing train ...

And some interesting rocks and plants ...

When we arrived at the Butte, we encountered the school group's bus driver,
who provided lots of background information and made a fuss over the dogs.


Continue to Part 2